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Ramsey Named East All Star MVP for Home Run

Ramsey Named East All Star MVP for Home Run

By: Katie Wiklund - CCBL Senior Intern
08/02/2011 7:36 AM -

BOSTON, Mass.-- When James Ramsey (FSU) took the field at Fenway Park last Friday night for Cape Cod Baseball League’s annual All Star Game, he’d never have guessed he’d be awarded the title of MVP for the East team. Ramsey’s postgame reaction and reflection of his performance on the field showed his unpretentious character that provides a strong backbone for his success on the field.  

This season with the YD Red Sox Ramsey has played in 31 games, with 112 at bats. Bringing in 28 runs, 35 hits and 17 RBI, Ramsey has a batting average of .321. His talent on the diamond earned him a spot in the East Division All Star batting lineup.

As predicted, Ramsey was a standout at the All Star Game under the lights of Fenway Park. Of his 3 at bats, Ramsey was the only player who hit a homerun, contributing to the East’s 4-1 victory over the West. It came in the fifth inning on a first pitch swing. 

“Picks (Pickler) put me in the off spot, just kind of like a 3-4 mentality, and I’m used to hitting that at school, just you know if you’re going to get a fastball you got to take advantage of it…I try to make sure I’m getting ahead on it--and the guy had some real good sliders as his out pitch--but I wanted to work knee deep into the count with him.  So once I got a fastball I just tried to put the best swing on it as possible,” Ramsey said of his first pitch homer.

Ramsey acknowledged the support and talent of his teammates when remembering the emotions in the dugout after his home run.

 “The best part was running around the bases and getting back to the dugout, you know, getting the high fives from guys I’ve only known for a couple hours and have seen me play for a couple weeks now. But the MVP could have gone to any of those guys. I’m really blessed to be playing aside so many good players this week,” Ramsey said.

Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox manager Scott Pickler, the coach of the East team, put an emphasis on the experience the boys shared at Fenway.

“It’s a lot of fun--a great experience for the kids,” Pickler said. “Talk to anyone of these players and they’ll tell you what this experience means, to play at Fenway with the history and everything else.”

Ramsey’s humble character was highlighted in his reaction to being awarded the MVP title. Rather than focusing on his personal accomplishments during the game, Ramsey instead credits his teammates and their individual strengths.

“I was trying to take it in a bit when we were all in the room waiting to come out for the team picture, looking out at about 50 players who you know you’re going to see a lot of their names for a while,” said Ramsey. “The guys hitting the home run derby, they’re all extremely talented, the guys that played in the game. I’m just really lucky to be able to be up here. This league is outstanding and first class and I think we all are just extremely lucky to be up here.”

A rising senior at Florida State University, this past 2011 season Ramsey started 65 games as an outfielder with a batting average of .364. Ramsey contributed to the Seminoles’ success with 250 at bats, 58 runs, 18 doubles, 10 homeruns and 67 RBIs.

Going into the playoffs, Ramsey and the rest of the YD Red Sox hope to bring the energy from the All Star Game back to the diamond to win the Cape Cod Baseball League championship.